Six emerging artists selected for immersive residency at Museum of Northern Arizona
Six early-career artists from across the country have been selected for the 2026 Namingha Institute, a two-week residency that begins April 26 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
This year’s program is led by Virgil Ortiz, known for work that spans ceramics, fashion, and multimedia, often drawing on historical events such as the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
The selected artists are Bronson Soza of Phoenix, David Lampel of Las Vegas, Kyla Hawkins of St. Louis, Ruth E. Richard-Mahoney of Tucson, Sammie Biter of Flagstaff, and Zuly Bustamante, also of Tucson. Over the course of the residency, they will take part in studio sessions, group critiques, and research using the museum’s collections.
Named in honor of the influential Namingha family of Hopi-Tewa artists—including Dan Namingha and Arlo Namingha—the institute focuses on mentorship and professional development for emerging talent. Funding support comes in part from the Philip M. Smith Trust.
Participants will also have access to the museum’s Easton Collection Center, where they can study both historical and contemporary works. The residency is designed to be immersive, with artists staying in on-site cabins and working in a setting that emphasizes collaboration and experimentation.
The program wraps up May 8 with a public exhibition and reception at the museum, where attendees can view the work created during the residency and meet the artists behind it.
About Virgil Ortiz
Virgil Ortiz is a Cochiti artist who comes from a lineage of renowned Pueblo potters, including his mother Seferina Ortiz and his grandmother Laurencita Herrera. His work blends past, present, and future and is rooted in the historic 1680 Pueblo Revolt, merging ancestral memory with futuristic and apocalyptic storytelling.
About Dan and Arlo Namingha
Dan Namingha is an internationally known artist whose works are in public and private collections worldwide. He has been painting and sculpting professionally for more than 50 years. From the Tewa-Hopi community, Dan’s evocative works express the stories of place, time and culture.
Arlo Namingha is Dan’s eldest son and a multidisciplinary artist. Arlo is known around the world for his minimalistic sculptures honed from natural materials. Some of his more recent works are interactive, inviting viewers to reassemble pieces in their own expression.
Dan and Arlo reside in Santa Fe, where they own Niman Fine Art gallery. The Museum of Northern Arizona holds several of their works in its collection, and Dan created the “Progression” sculpture that stands outside the museum entrance.
